Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Tompkins red-tailed hawk fledglings hang out on bathroom scaffolding

The scaffolding that currently surrounds the Tompkins Square comfort station (bathrooms) provides a perfect perching place for the fledgling hawks. On a recent morning, I found two of them hanging out there.

Two fledgling hawks perched on scaffolding.

Two fledgling hawks perched on Tompkins bathroom scaffolding.

The hawk on the right had just eaten breakfast (it caught a rat), so it relaxed as it digested its meal. The hawk on the left had not eaten and was much more active, hopping and flitting around.

Two fledgling hawks perched on Tompkins bathroom scaffolding.

Two fledgling hawks perched on Tompkins bathroom scaffolding.

In the photo below, the two hawks are in reversed position.

Two fledgling hawks perched on Tompkins bathroom scaffolding.

The hawk on the right took off:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling.

And settled on a different perch.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling.

It then flew over to a pipe that had a black plastic zip-tie sticking out of it.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on scaffolding.

Everything is a potential toy, so the hawk went to work tugging on the zip-tie.

Fledgling hawk playing with a zip-tie.

Fledgling hawk playing with a zip-tie.

The hawk also paid attention to the netting, trying to pull it off. Perhaps the hawk is getting impatient with the time it's taking to renovate the bathroom building.

Fledgling hawk tugging at scaffolding netting.

Fledgling hawk perched on scaffolding.

When the hawks fluff up their feathers, they can look like completely different birds. The photos above and below are of the same individual.

Fledgling hawk perched on scaffolding.

This is the other fledgling who remained still as it digested its meal. To me, it has a rounder and slightly wider face.

Fledgling hawk perched on scaffolding.

Compare to its sibling who looks a bit more slender over all.

Fledgling hawk perched on scaffolding.

Speaking of digesting meals, this is one of the fledglings after scavenging some leftover pigeon from the bushes. The hawks will often go back for food they did not finish eating.

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling with mangled pigeon for breakfast.

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling with mangled pigeon for breakfast.

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling with mangled pigeon for breakfast.

Looks tasty!

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling with mangled pigeon for breakfast.

This is just a random photo showing the ruffled feathers on the back of one of the fledglings as it comes in for a landing.

Ruffled feathers on the back of one of the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings.

You can also just barely see the fifth tail feather from the left is slightly shorter than the others. This hawk had a missing/stunted feather that left a gap in its tail after fledgling. I don't know how it got that way, but it made this individual easy to identify. However, after several weeks, the feather is now grown in and the tail looks almost exactly like those of its siblings, so identifying them individually has become a lot more difficult.

More to come...

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